The final day

Hi everyone. It's great to read all of your final day posts and it was equally great partaking in the PCP with you all.

This is just a quick final post to let you all know how I'm doing. I've not been anywhere near a PC for a few days as I was staying in a forest in a hill station in southern India for the past five days. It's been totally blissful.

Anyway, day 90 came and went with surprising ease. The exercises has become second nature and I am still skipping about 6 out of 7 days a week. It's so easy to fit it into my travelling day, even with treks and other activities.

The final few days of the PCP were on the whole more challenging that the first few days. Mainly because I had got into a routine which I felt in control of and the travelling, lack of Internet, and being unable to prepare my own food had kind of caused havoc to my routine.

But suffice to say I am extremely proud of myself for completing the PCP and so are those around me. It has given me a new appreciation for good food and has taught me the most effective ways of keeping my body healthy.

Thanks to Chen and Patrick for all your knowledge and mentoring and I would love to do the advanced PCP next year!

I'll be able to get some photos up in a few days time!

Over and out!

Day 85: Namaste!

Just a quick post to say 'hi' to my fellow PCPers, looks like you're all still going strong.

I'm finding it hard to keep to the diet as much as I was at home, I can't get a hold of enough fish portions as most restaurants where I'm staying at the moment don't even serve fish. I think it's because we're staying quite in-land (Rajasthan) and so it's probably difficult to get hold of fish from here. We're also constantly on the move as we're from city to city every two days so routine is tough. But the PCP psychology is still there!!

We're heading to Kerala soon for the rest of the month so that will make things easier to maintain the PCP lifestyle.

Namaste, for now!

P.s. Visited the Taj Mahal today - AMAZING!

Day 74: "Taste bitter now and later...

..will be sweet. Or experience only the sweet then
later will be bitter"

This week I've been growing so fed up with the jump rope. I don’t know why. I don’t know why this week of all weeks. I know I've been really preoccupied these last three weeks with other matters, but they kind of came to a close yesterday. And I was still totally unmotivated to skip today.

So I had an idea.

I grabbed my MP3 player and trainers and decided to go for a run instead!


It's pretty cold outside in England at the moment. I mean, not as cold as it gets in January, but today it was about 9 degrees, with a 12mph wind - not on my side either!

My throat was burning from the cold air and even my teeth, gums and inside my ears were cold! Not surprisingly I didn’t see any other runners this evening.

I know my route well because it's towards, around and back from my local park and, up until about summer last year, I used to run the route regularly. It's about 3 miles long. Last spring I was training for a race at the time I was doing a lot of cardio, weekly including outdoor running.

The weird thing is my run today felt so easy and unforced. My body felt light and totally efficient, my steps and movements were rhythmic. I didn’t even get tired the whole time. And despite the cold air, it was so enjoyable. I felt so alive in the cold.



Last year, and any other time I've trained for a race, I never ever felt this strong.




Now I know I'm really fit!

I can really feel it! Fitter than I've ever been. Fitter, stronger, healthier! I can only imagine how great I'm going to feel in 3 weeks time when I have reached the peak. I can't wait!

The old Chinese proverb rings so true: "Taste bitter now and later will be sweet. Or experience only the sweet then later will be bitter".

We're coming to the end of the PCP now. All the training and diet wasn’t (isn’t) easy. It takes a lot of dedication and consistent motivation. The workouts are every single day without rest and the diet, although highly nutritious and always filling, is simple and basic and often boring. I mean 7 egg whites a day, at one point!

No cake, no wine, no Take-aways - It has been hard.

But, coming to the end of the PCP, it was totally worth it.

Now that I can really see the fruits of my labour, in so many ways, I can totally appreciate that old Chinese proverb.

Day 73: Just to make you chuckle....

I just couldn't resist posting this. Ha ha! I love it.

Day 78: Sprint finale

Well not quite the finale yet, but since I'm off on my trip at the end of the week, this may well be one of my last posts.

Whilst the PCP diet has eased up a bit now, the workout has reached a new height of intensity so it looks like it's going to be quite the sprint finale.

I remember at the outset of the PCP, that I was really hung up on missing out food with strong flavours. I was dead set on making a really tasty PCP friendly tomato ketchup and I also found a good healthy substitute for salt; cumin seeds, which I still advocate and will use as a substitute for salt from now on, whenever I feel I need a bit of a purge.

I remember complaining about having to eat 5 "boring" egg whites a day, thinking up what spices and herb combinations I could add to eggs to make them more palatable.

Now I don't even think about flavour when I eat them. I just eat them, plain and boiled, because I know they're good for me. And that's enough for me to enjoy them now. Well, maybe not enjoy, but appreciate them.



Now, in 12 week of the PCP, my taste in foods has changed, I no longer crave the strong fake, flavours of Marmite, Ketchup and other salty snacks. I'm more than happy to eat simple, natural foods with natural flavours like avocado, porridge oats, berries, apples.

It would now feel improper to add salt to food. The foods that nature provides, each have their own distinct taste and do not need added salt! It's only from eating a diet based on fake foods that we desire artificially strong flavours in everything we eat.



I'm not saying I'd never eat a pizza or take away again, but I've developed a real appreciation for real food now and I no longer have the desire to disguise real food with tonnes of salt, sauces and condiments.

In fact the idea makes me feel a bit queasy just thinking about it.

If I don't get to post again during this project, I just wanted to say thank you to my fellow PCPers, for you motivation, support and funny, thoughtful and inspiring blogs. It has been great taking this challenge with you all and seeing us all change! Good luck to Emily, Jonti, Shelly and Denise - You've done great so far and I can't wait to see the end results.

I also want to thank Patrick and Chen for your guidance and consistent encouragement throughout. This has been a great journey in so many ways and has tested me to my limits and I would definitely come back to do the advanced project.

Although I've still about 12 more days to go until I finish, even at this stage, I am the strongest, healthiest and fittest I've ever been and I have more vitality than I can remember ever having before!

I hope to keep you updating throughout my travels.

Happy holidays and New Year!

Day 71: The Muscle Wall

Oh my goodness!

What is it with this week and the end of last week?

This week and the end of last week seem like a major milestone for my body. I'm finding this week more challenging than any other during the PCP so far.



All of the muscles in my body feel worked to the core. In fact the first thing I feel when I wake up in the morning is muscle soreness. Everywhere.

I've never experienced that on the PCP to date. This week and last seems to have jumped up a few notches in intensity.

My calf muscles are dying! I've resided to walking without bending my knee!!

I can't get out of bed in the mornings. My muscles seem heavy and dense, my body won't let me leave my warm sheets behind. I've never had problems getting out of bed before.

My muscles are stronger than my will right now!


I'm sweating more post workout.

My pre-workout motivation is slacking, which normally takes place in bed as I contempate my alarm snoozer button, and since my muscles are sore first thing too, I'm not surprised by the lack of motivation.

My body feels tired. Shelly seemed to have this last week too.

What's going on with my body??

Day 67: An apple a day......

It's always nice to receive validation that a goal you're working towards is worthy.
Patrick is a great coach and his daily words of wisdom are much appreciated.

However, Patrick has a vested interest in our progress on the PCP and, he has taken part in the PCP himself.

So he believes in it. Obviously.

If he didn’t, I certainly wouldn’t have taken it up.

But when I hear from non-PCPers, who are health professionals or those who work in the fitness industry, that the steps I'm taking on the PCP are creditable, worthy, meaningful, it’s like receiving a big red waxy stamp of authenticity. It feels great.

For example, I picked up a pamphlet from some health magazine, which was promoting health and fitness for women. It read:
"If you exercise regularly, the latest studies show you (women) need around 1.8g of protein per kg of body mass, per day. For an average 70g woman, that means a whopping 126g of protein" ( That's about 5 1/4 eggs or 3 cans of tuna)

It also read; "protein is vital for healthy hair, skin, nails and general well-being" AND...

"protein helps to tone and shape your body after exercise and boosts the metabolic rate to shift fat"... and it went on.....

Nice.

Bite sized little nuggets of motivation. Geared to a woman's sensibilities.

It made me smile when I read it. I though, “I am already doing that!“

But of course, I know I'm doing the right thing because I can see and feel the effects of my PCP lifestyle.

BUT... It's always good to receive that pat on the back, isn’t it?

I spent the weekend with my friend who's a doctor. She was impressed to see my new toned physique and ,when it came round to doing my exercise that evening (which I did at her place) she actually wanted to do the 4 sets of 60 second planks with me!

We also did some yoga with her little boys the next day. She was really keen to hear about the PCP and expressed interest in doing it herself. I would just love it if she did!

We spent a lot of the weekend talking about various health issues. How lacking the BMI is, how important it is to teach children from an early age how to make the best food choices. Being a doctor and a mum, she obviously spends a lot of time with health on her mind.

One thing she said that stuck in my head is that she sees so many patients on a daily basis and she can instantly tell just by looking at some of them, what kind of lifestyles they lead. And, how they prove that the way you lead your life in your younger years is directly related to how you will probably look and feel in older age.

She said before she even asks some patients, she already knows whether or not they are smokers, just by the discolouration of their skin, and even hair if it’s excessive long-term smoking.

Both of my parents look so young for their age. And genes aside, it's probably because they had me and my sisters, when they were in their early 20s, stopped drinking and partying when I was born and have since lead really health consciously.

Most people know all of this, but rarely do people have the impetus to invest into their health for their future. It’s a bit like me knowing the PCP is worthwhile but still feeling somewhat surprised when I read an article that lists that everything I’m already doing is the key to living a long, healthy, happy life. People often need a doctor to tell them to stop smoking or lose weight before they do stop.

I often speak to friends who are cynical about the PCP; they don’t understand the commitment factor. They feel that it's all about deprivation, or vanity, or it’s just too excessive and strict. Or they probably feel that I'm just boring, because I’m not drinking.

I tend not to go into why I’m committed to the PCP too much, as they always answer their own doubts anyway and ALWAYS conclude by saying "But you do look great!" And I always say "I feel great". Because I really do and, these are just two perfectly good reasons to do the PCP.

Motherland's calling...

So fellow PCPers, a quick post to keep you girls informed!

I'm escaping the dull, damp English weather next month and I'm off to India on 4 December and won't be home for a month. Yay! I can't wait!


Being half Indian and having never setting foot in India, this trip is long overdue!!

So, for me the last 10 days or so of the PCP will be spent in unfamiliar territory; staying in a Tibetan colony in central Delhi, catching trains and tuk-tuks!! And enjoying amazing cuisine (hopefully not too much).

I suspect that my postings are going to be sporadic and I don't know how I'm going to keep to my diet and, not to mention the excercise ..and the plane journey! Yikes!

I'm pretty worried that all of the effort I've put into the PCP to date, might slowly come undone at the seams. I've spoken with Patrick about this and he doesnt think it will be a problem.. we'll see!

I'm hoping, I'm going to be able sustain the workouts and diets for what is probably the most important part of the PCP. It would be nice also to be able to keep up to date with you guys and your progress during that time, but I'm not sure how much internet access I will have.

Anyway fellow PCPers, let me know your thoughts on how best to keep the PCP going when I'm abroad. I'm thinking the diet will probably be okay. It just might be difficult fitting the daily workout in whilst I'm on the move. But I'm highly likely to be walking, trekking and swimming a lot anyway.

What are your plans over the holiday period?

Day 54: Walking the plank

Why is the plank the least enjoyable exercise?

It's not just the least enjoyable, but for me, it's just torture. I hate downloading the day's workout to find that plank is sitting at the end of the sheet, taunting me.

I just do not like doing the plank.

I have variable feelings towards the other exercises, sometimes I enjoy them, sometimes they're boring. But with the plank, there is consistent mutual dislike; I'm convinced plank dislikes like me too!



But I actually don't think plank is the toughest exercise physically. I just think it's the most mentally challenging.

It's the only exercise where you a) are in an uncompromising position and b) can do nothing but observe the pain as it accumulates.

With every other exercise, it's easy to get distracted by the motion. Your mind is occupied by the movement of the muscles and limbs. And so the pain is secondary, or at least right up until the last few moments.

With plank on the other hand, from the word go, you are completely surrendered to the pose, if you're not in form, you're no longer in the pose - in this way it's a like yoga.

And because you are not moving, and totally focused on your body and the active muscles, you are equally as focused on the pain.

I've tried everything to psychologically beat plank; I've tried embracing the pain, almost meditating into it. That was awful, don't go there. I've tried music or talking. I've tried counting. But the thing is, to become distracted invariably results in losing the form.

This to me, is why plank is such a beast. So when I came across Corry's post , describing a variation to the plank, I just had to try it out.

I wish I had found this earlier.

She introduced a ‘donkey kick’ into the pose, which probably makes the plank more physically challenging, but actually, because variety was introduced, it made it more enjoyable to do.

Also to go into downward dog in between sets is such a treat. It feels like a big yawn!

And in fact, because plank is the last exercise in the routine, once finished, it feels quite natural to go straight into some rounds of sun salutation.

If like me, you also dread ‘plank days’ I would definitely recommend you read Corry’s post and try it yourself. Tell me what you think about it. Personally, it’s changed my view of walking the plank.

Day 51: Questions, questions, questions

I went to the Yoga Show/Exhibition in Kensington Olympia last weekend; I got free tickets from the British Wheel of Yoga.

I've never been to a yoga "show" and so I expected a highly commercialised, money grabbing, sales-orientated experience. But, I was actually pleasantly surprised.

I was able to take part in four very different yoga classes (all for nothing) and meet lots of likeminded people.

I found a stall offering courses in transcendental meditation which, ever since reading this brilliant David Lynch interview , I've been really, really interested in for a while.

I met some interesting yoga teachers or "yoga entrepreneurs" who claim to have styled their own type of yoga. Like this crazy dude He looks like a magician!

Anyway, the point is that I had a great time at the Yoga Show. It was nice to be able to relax and enjoy an event I knew was helping me on the way to peak condition. I tried new styles of yoga and sampling some really exciting foods without feeling guilty about it!

Wheat grass (okay not that exciting, but different), fresh fruit smoothies. I even sampled tiny pieces of this conscious chocolate . (I couldn't resist) Which admittedly has a considerable percentage of cocoa butter but no sugar, no salt, no animal or vegetable fat, no preservatives - Amazing!

Last week I spent the whole time craving chocolate. I mean proper chocolate. I don’t mean toothpick-sized pieces like I sampled at the Yoga Show. I mean a Cadbury's Flake or Terry's Chocolate Orange. Just as long as it was substantial. And chocolately. I haven’t eaten chocolate in eight weeks!!

Now that I've got an indulgence this week, I cannot get my head round the idea. I have no idea what I want. I keep boring my boyfriend with questions like; what shall I eat? Shall I eat it on Friday evening? Shall I get a takeaway? Shall I bake a cake? What shall I eat? What shall I eat? What shall I eat?
Why should he care!???!

Maybe I'm building up the idea of this indulgence into something bigger than it is. Which will inevitably disappoint as it did last time.

I should just get it over and done with, instead of making it something special and having it looming over me like some fat, calorie-laden shadow...dripping with strawberry icing.



.....and then my boyfriend emailed me the link to this Flickr streamfor inspiration!

Day 46: In which I congratulate those who have finished and declare my love affair with milk

Firstly, congratulations to the 10 PCPers who finished yesterday. YAY!!!!!

It's been really inspiring and motivating following your progress while I embarked onto the project.

I am now, exactly where you were 45 days ago, which was day 1 for me! That seem like such a long time ago too!

This week has been eventful for me too. I went to American Apparel mid-week and tried on these beauties


I was so shocked when the size I would normally go for (27inch waist) was too roomy and the 24/25 inch waist was a perfect fit. Really, really shocked!

So that was a great boost, although they are stretch jeans so much better accommodating anyway! But I didn’t care about that minor point.

I've a new found love for my jump rope. I've just found such a good rhythm now and I'm able to concentrate easier and I trip up so much less. This week has been such an all round improvement to my workout.

Other news. I rediscovered a love for dried dates, but they must produce SO much sugar during the drying process because I ate two or three in one go the other day and got instant indigestion. So I’m kind of off them again.

It's interesting to see how my body responds to foods that I’ve reintroduced since the PCP. Some things taste better, stronger, more complex. For example since the PCP I have been absolutely in love with milk. I never particularly liked or disliked it before the PCP. But now I absolutely savour the taste and really relish every last drop.

Milk is so underrated!

I L O V E M I L K !!!

Another great thing I use on the PCP are frozen packs of mixed summer fruits; redcurrants, blackberries, blackcurrants and raspberries. The amazing thing about these bags of about 500g is that the flavour and colour of the berries once defrosted are so intense and deep, yet they’re frozen!



They last, well, forever and there like £2 a bag!!!! So much cheaper than a fresh box AND they are locally produced AND they are great thrown in the blender for a quick, beautifully pink smoothie!!!

Or once I even mixed about 2 tablespoons full with honey, mashed, spread on toasted brown bread and put under the grill for a healthy jam!

Just imagine the other things you could do with 'em! Oh the possibilities!!

Day 42: A PCP foodie accomplishment

I don't want to blow my own trumpet, but toot toot toot!!

We had friends over for dinner last night and I made the best prawn curry I've ever made.

I think the secret to a good curry is taking your time and not rushing it. That's the best way to get the full depth of flavour out of the ingredients.

The great thing is, and this is probably what made it such an accomplishment, it's got no salt whatsoever and hardly any oil. So it is of course PCP friendly.

I know it looks a bit "swampy" in the picture but these really don't do it justice! And anyway it's the taste that matters.

Here's how to make it:

2 teaspoons garam masala
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
2 teaspoons whole coriander seeds
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
8 whole peppercorns
1 tablespoon paprika
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
Small amount of ginger or 1 teaspoon of powdered ginger
4 cloves garlic, crushed
4 shallots
2 small Cyprus aubergines chopped roughly into squares (these are about 6 inches long)
50grams fat free Greek yoghurt (optional)
1 tablespoon tamarind paste or lemon juice
2 teaspoons honey
300 grams king prawns
1 bay leaf
Bunch of fresh coriander for serving

[These are rough measurements as the bare minimum of ingredients you should use, but do experiment with them according taste. I normally add more than this in terms of spices.

Also, the honey is added to balance out the sourness of the tamarind/lemon juice. So add this according to your taste.

The curry should be sweet and sour with a kick of heat!]

Put a tiny amount of olive oil in a heavy based pan and coat the cut aubergine in the garam masala. Once the oil is hot, cook the spiced aubergine for about 15 minutes or until the skin is tender.

Whilst this is cooking on a low heat. Put the coriander seeds, cumin, peppercorns, cayenne pepper, paprika and turmeric in a spice grinder or mill and grind as finely as possible.

Add the crushed/chopped ginger and garlic and about 4 tablespoons of water to make a paste. Stir and set aside.

Once the aubergine is cooked add the finely chopped shallots and stir fry until the shallots are translucent. Add the spice mix. Stir fry for 2 minutes.

Now add 150 ml water cover, reduce the heat to low and simmer vigorously for 10 minutes.

Add the bay leaf. Add the yogurt and the tamarind/lemon juice and honey. The yoghurt might curdle slightly but this is fine, once the curry is taken off the heat it won’t be noticeable.

Mix well then simmer again. Add the prawns and stir frequently until cooked.

Remove the bay leaves. Serve. Garnish with the fresh coriander. Done!


If you want you can add an egg/egg white portion to the curry too. The curry should end up with a thin consistency and normally soaked up with rice but broccoli or cauliflower are no-carb substitutes.

Yum!

Oh! And my friend’s wedding was great! Thanks for all your advice guys. I really appreciate your comments.

Dinner was much easier than I expected, a lot of rocket salad and balsamic vinegar and roasted veg as the veggie option, which I ate happily. I steered clear of anything which was too heavy, sugary or calorific.

And the wedding cake? Well it was gorgeous and knowing my friend I knew it would be chocolate rather than the traditional fruit cake.

Here's what it looked like. Nice huh?

I was told it was tasty too but I was happy to appreciate it aesthetically.

Day 38: Help wanted!!

Need some advice guys!

I'm going to a wedding this weekend, what am I to do?

What am I to do about dinner and dessert and wedding cake(I bet it's going to be a nice one too)??

I can't weight my food. I can't sit there and push my food around on my plate. I can't predict what's going to be given to me. I won't be served eggs, that's for sure.

Help!

What would you do in situations like this where you really have no say whatsoever in what you're given to eat?

What shall I do?

What would be the best approach for the day, given the nature of the event?

Hopefully I'll be served some veg with dinner that I can eat, maybe some fruit with dessert....

Who knows....?

Day 37: Awake from my slumber....

Well I'm back after my cold - yippee!

It was just a cold, but I think I made the mistake of continuing fully with the exercises instead of giving myself a break and I believe for that I paid a price.

On day 5 of the cold I was so tired that I slept for a couple of hours in the afternoon.

I w a s j u s t s o t i r e d.

But when I awoke I felt so much better. No PCP workout that day either and I think that was a good decision because the next day I was all better again :)

Actually, towards the end of last week I was feeling a bit disillusioned with the PCP and fed up with the diet. And quite frankly, annoyed with Patrick. I just didn't see any visual improvement and why was I getting a stinking cold??? I should just do things my own way!

BUT, I must say, after I recovered from my cold I felt AMAZING! My friends and I went out on Saturday night. I was the only sober person, of course.

We stayed out late and I was SO full of energy!

When I first stopped drinking I found going out in the evenings boring and I'd get tired around 10.30. I'm finding that now, I just don't get that fatigue anymore.

I'm not saying I can stay up all night or anything; when it's bedtime I get sleepy like anyone else but I just feel more in control of it.

When I am awake, I'm really awake!

And if I'm not yet ready to go to sleep, I don't get sleepy. It's weird. I cant explain it. But I know I feel good.

And I kind of exaggerated about not seeing any differences. This week, other than the high energy levels, I've noticed real physical change; my muscles, especially in my arms are very noticeable to the touch (I still can't beat my boyfriend in an arm wrestle but he is about 6ft 3, so I've come to terms with that.)

And actually, some trousers I haven't worn in about a year are about an inch and a half too big around the waist.

Also my asana, when I get round to doing some yoga, just feels deeper and stronger. I'm much more confident when going into a pose and holding it. Even though I haven't been doing as much yoga lately, I somehow can still get to some good deep stretches.

And I was really please after I saw my weekly photo (I was secretly dreading it!) but I can SO notice the difference now.






So I've finally woken from my slumber and have a new lease of life!....

























































Other things;
(i)5 eggs a day? WHAT?! That's all I'm saying,

(ii) Pistol squats are EEEEEVIL (also strangely fun (?)) and,

(iii) Bicycle is such a killer!!

What mean masochist invented these torture techniques?

Day 29: One whole month done! And autumn's really here.

So, I live in an arty, bohemian town in North East London and I'm lucky enough to live by Broadway Market where I headed on Saturday to collect my treat.



(Oh look, there's my yoga studio in the background behind the florist!)




I already knew my indulgence was going to be a cupcake from my favourite stall in Broadway Market.






Naturally, I had to go for the lemon vanilla cupcake which is my favourite, but you can see that the choice is overwhelming and it took my about 5 minutes to decide which one I wanted.

I really enjoyed eating it actually, but afterwards I felt so underwhelmed by the lack of satisfaction.

I felt guilty because; a)I had been doing so well without sugary snack and I kind of felt let I'd gone off track a bit b) it wasn't satisfying at all! I much prefer my yoghurt and berry milkshake!

I also felt a bit 'speedy', presumably from the intense sugar rush which my body probably didn't miss at all. Now I know how kids feel when you give them a Mr. Whippy and they start instantly going mental around the house or garden - beating up their younger siblings! (I started play-wresting with a friend and I fell and cracked my elbow onto the corner of the Play Station 2, Owch! It hurt so much!)

The worst thing, which I'm now over, is that for a few hours afterwards, I started craving sweet and salty snacks. Up until now I haven't done so, but as soon as I re-introduce sugar, my body says "Yeah, I remember that! Can I have some more please?". I got a bit moody afterwards and felt a bit deprived.

I'm glad to say I'm back on track now. I can watch my boyfriend munch mini orange KitKats all weekend and I don't feel envious at all.

I've picked up a bit of a cold though. The temperature in the UK has dropped noticeably in the last few days and it's much sharper. It's clear that autumn is here.

[London Fields]



I've gone all sneezy and have a bit of a sore throat - Gimme sympathy!

But seriously, I'm fine, I'm eating more oranges than before and summer berries so I'm sure that will help!

PS. Well done to the rest of my team, we've done 1 whole PCP month! YAY!

Day 23; Other great things to do with the daily dose of eggs!!

Mmmm, eggplants!

Day 22: Shout out to the veterans!

For my PCP inspirational figure I chose the professional dancer Darcey Bussell.

As a child I wanted to become a professional ballet dancer and I've always admired the way ballet dancers exhibit so much grace and elegance through movement, yet at the same time so much strength and stamina.

At the outset of the PCP, my goal was to combine my yoga practice with the strength training of the PCP to develop the perfect balance of strength and flexibility, just like a ballerina.

I still want to achieve this but at the same time, the more I get into the PCP and the more veteran PCPer's blogs I read, the less motivated I get by my inspirational figure and the more motivated I get by the "regular" people who have completed the PCP and now look amazing.

They are not celebrities or professional athletes or dancers, but real people and they are inspiring because despite the demands of their daily lives, which involve raising families, work commitments and other everyday goings on, they were/are dedicated to achieving exactly what I want to achieve for myself.

And most of them have already done this.

So I've kind of forgotten about Darcey over the few days since starting this.



However I came across this hot chick in one of my boyfriend's graphic novels (yep, geeky) and whoa, would I love to have definition like that!


X-Men, Storm

Day 17: Tom. Ketchup Sample #1

I think I might have just made a PCP friendly ketchup! This is the best I could do so far;


1 heaped tablespoon of tomato puree
1-ish teaspoon of cider vinegar (best to just add this to taste)
1/2 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon honey (just to bring a little sweetness!)






Okay, so I know it doesn't have the nice viscosity and silky, smooth appearance that bought ketchup has but hey it's healthy, so there!

And the beauty of it is that it's quick (that's why they call it ketchup) and you can change the ratio of ingredients to suit your taste.

And it was fun making it!

Other things I did consider adding but didn't;
paprika (more for aesthetics than anything, for a warmer colour)
garlic powder and onion power (these are in the ingredients of packaged ketchup, but I don't have any at home and have a feeling these things might have added salt)

I also want to try a version that's cooked and reduced down. That might enhance the flavours more.

So please try it for yourself and tell me what you think and, tell me if you add anything else to the recipe. I'm thinking of having it with some sweet potato wedges and steamed lemon sole and veg.

And Patrick, you need to create a PCP recipe book!!!

Day 13; Week3, here I come!

Today’s blog is going to be long because I want to review the last few days as a whole.

My PCP group and I end this week’s PCP diet and workout regime today. Looking back on this week, despite having some difficult days, overall I’ve really enjoyed the food and the exercise sessions have been relatively enjoyable too and, at least they’ve been quick.

I do hate lunges though; I find them so boring and not very effective.
I also think I have fear of them because of my old knee injury, I’m probably afraid of taking myself to the edge with my lunges, so I’m not entirely focused or relaxed when doing them. I’m aware I’m holding back with these and need to work on my technique.

My week has been very busy with attending Law Society seminars and undertaking a lot of new pro bono legal work involving a lot of travel through the City. I’ve also just started a new meditation course and I’m looking for a new French language course so I’ve got a lot on.

Because of this change in my schedule, I’ve felt tired and sometimes hungry when I’ve not been able to eat a lunch other that some fruit.

But on the whole, I’ve dealt with the situation and not got anxious or agitated as I would have in the past. Perhaps this is a reflection of the PCP diet allowing me to develop more control over my food, whereas before I think my food controlled me.
So far this week, I’ve not craved any high salt/fat/sugary snack foods – also probably because I’m being so well fed.

So this weekend was quite special. Saturday was my friend’s Hen Party, and a few girls went down to the South Coast to celebrate her few final days of ‘singledom’.
I am aware that these are the times when, taken out of our routines, the PCP is going to be tough. Especially when being invited somewhere where we don’t get much control over what food‘s on offer.

So lunch was afternoon cream teas, sounds lovely doesn’t it? And very English.
Just look at those delectable cakes and sandwiches!!!




Don’t they look nice? Well, yes maybe, but I didn’t touch one! Not even the champagne.

I drank my Darjeeling tea and ate my fruit salad (which was lovely), whilst the other hens around me clucked; “Well she’s doing that diet thing, isn’t she?” and “Are you sure you can’t eat one tiny scone?” and “What about some jam?” or “Champagne doesn’t have any fat”!

They did make me laugh. Quite endearing really.

As if I’ve never eaten all these weird and wonderful foods before me and the very sight of them is torturing me inside. Surely I should give in to temptation. But I wasn’t particularly tempted anyway, so I didn’t.

I do think my fruit salad was drenched in some kind of sugared fruit juice, which made the fruit taste a bit artificial, but I did my best to drain the fruit pieces and drank my wonderful tea. Yummy!

I’ve noticed from speaking to people this last week, that image generally controls people’s perceptions of health and fitness. So that slim is synonymous with healthy and fit and certainly does not require any kind of controlled eating.

A very svelte friend of mine has just come back from a week’s detox retreat where she was regularly told off by the much larger participants for not needing to be there because she’s “so skinny”. Why does she need to justify wanting to do something for her health and mind just because she’s thin???



My choice to do the PCP is partly because I want to be able to feel what it’s like to be at the fittest, healthiest and strongest I’ve ever been, but also because I want to take on the metal challenge itself. So I guess it’s an intellectual choice as well as a health choice.

So many people around me are happy to settle for the norm or what they perceive to be satisfactory and, aren’t willing to push themselves in order to be living life at its very peak.

Or, they push themselves in one area only; academically or professionally, to get the best grades and promotions but never get the chance to really challenge their intellect by studying things vastly different to what they read at university or practice at work. And they end up knowing very little about the real world around them. But that’s fine for them, because it’s familiar and comforting.

Which is everything that this PCP is not, and I’m glad!

So despite a few mishaps along the way, this week was great and I’m feeling really positive about next week’s tasks.

Also, I do want to add that lot’s of my friends and family are genuinely impressed by the PCP and very supporting and they particularly love the idea of the blogs, which I must say, is my favourite part!

DAY9: Ate breakfast this morning...

with the sad realisation that I can't eat Marmite for 81 days

Woe is me.



Marmite, I love you

DAY 8: So I got what I asked for, didn't I?

Well, I ended last week wanting to eat more and now. Week two of the PCP and I've clearly got what I asked for, with Patrick telling me to eat two eggs a day (!!!), together with my quota of veg and carbs., and that's just breakfast!

Will this change everyday or am I literally meant to eat 14 eggs every single week for the next 3 months???

Looking at my PCP diet, kind of freaks me out, because there's SO much there and I've quite got used to eating my small portions.

Breakfast was delicious today and despite my egg calculation earlier, I didn't actually eat any eggs for breakfast because I had none. Woopsee! But I've got some now for tomorrow and ever after, so don't worry Patrick!



So breakfast (obviously short of the two wonderful obligatory eggs) included two slices of wholemeal toast, with half an avocado chopped and spread on top, together with fried tomatoes (in 1/2 tsp olive oil). The important bit is that the tomatoes were sprinkled with paprika, black pepper and my special ingredient, which will be my personal substitute for salt from here on;cumin seeds. Yum!

Lunch, in which I needed 130g fish (130grams!!!) was a light tortilla filled with;

1 can of tuna
1/2 tbsp chopped parsley
2 tbsp spoons fat free Greek yoghurt
loads and loads of lemon juice to keep the mix moist
The other half of this morning's avocado
1 tomato
Season with paprika, black pepper and, of course cumin seeds.

Et voila.....



Dinner tonight's going to be harder with friends coming round, so I'm going to have to seriously adapt my parmesan crusted haddock and crispy roasted potatoes, so that I don't bodge up the diet on day 1 of trying it. And obviously, no alcohol *sigh*

Exercise was definitely taken up a notch today, but I really enjoyed it and ended with some simple, calming poses and pranayama.

So, I've already identified where I'm going to have the most problem; I know that I'm going to crave for condiments most to begin with.

I love ketchup and chilli sauce and horse-radish sauce and tartar sauce. But most of all, I really do love ketchup.

One saving grace is that I'm allowed my balsmic vinegar which works perfectly with all vegetables and salads, and even fruits..Seriously, try it drizzled over some strawberries! It really brings the sweetness out.

Anyway, my plan to avoid going without ketchup for 90 days; I'm setting myself the task of perfecting a wholly natural, fat-free, salt-free, sugar-free home-made PCP-friendly ketchup! Yay!!

So get your orders in!

DAY 4: "Please Sir, can I have some more?"

Wow! Am I moody today or what!? I just want to eat more! The exercise is fine, I could do it 3 times over but the diet is poop!

I actually woke up this morning feeling nauseous and totally lacked any appetite.

After eating, I have to admit I still don't feel physically hungry, but I just want to eat some comfort food!!! I had a dream last night about a really large, plate overflowing with pasta and it actually repelled me and, I think that's why I woke up feeling a bit sick (and I'm definitely not pregnant). Anyway I felt fine after eating my mini-breakfast.

Channel 4 are currently broadcasting a great new documentary called Alone In The Wild.

The documentary is about Ed Wardle, a camera man who is dropped by plane into the Yukon wilderness in the northwest corner of Canada, with basic provisions and cameras to film himself, together with the intentions of living there completely alone for 3 months. I think the nearest human inhabitants are something ridiculous, like 300 miles away. It's a great, thrilling, ride of a documentary.

Why this is relevant is because food has been a big thing for me so far this week, as you can imagine. I'm basically in the process of reconditioning the way I feel about food and now at day 4, I'm feeling a bit emotional.

Food is clearly on my mind a lot at the moment if I'm even dreaming about it!

Anyway last night was episode 2 (maybe 20 days into his challenge) and, in summary old Ed is having a tough time. Not only has he got to deal with the constant fear of bears, relentless solitude (which is really causing havoc with his emotions) but he has practically no food. Well he has rations, which are measly, but so far he has managed to catch a little under 1 decent sized fish a day and a porcupine! Yuk!

Basically he can't find any food at all (see clip)

Anyway, he cried a lot in last night's episode and considers quitting. The lack of food and solitude is making him depressed and during his video diary he says to the camera "What would you do if you woke up and there was no food?".

Probably because of the PCP, this pricked something in my mind.

I've never ever had to think like that. Food has never not been available. Food, as with most of us in the Western world, has always been readily available and we have access to as much food as we want, whenever we want; every type of food we could ever desire.

So I question whether this is why we often over eat, and over indulge. Because we have so much of it, because it's always SO readily available and so we develop this emotional attachment to it. And we want more. Even though we're full. This, I can see is why we often crave comfort food and this is what I'm doing today.

So Patrick, I've learnt my lesson, can I eat more now? :) (just joking!)

Anyway for those of you who have not seen Alone In The Wild, you can watch a clip here...(it's not possible to embed)
Alone In The Wild

A state of mind thing

I don't like throwing food away. Especially if a) it tastes good b) it was homemade and c) it tastes good :(

It feels almost sacrilegious. I feel like I'm doing something incredibly mischievous.

But I can see that this is a state of mind conditioning process and I appreciate this for the following reasons;
(i) since eating my mini-portions, I don't feel hungry after a meal, at all.

(ii) I do find that I need to ignore my mind when it urges me to finish every last morsel on the plate.

(iii) And every time I eat something, my mind, like clockwork, says "eat it all, it's tasty and you'll feel more satisfied if you do"

I don’t feel ‘satisfied’ by eating everything on my plate – why would I? That’s a false sense of security I’m conditioned to believe. So that begs the question; why did I eat more than I needed to before?

I'm not going to be hard on myself at this stage in the game and try to psychoanalyse my eating habits, as I'm sure I have more challenged ahead. And I do have self- control when it comes to eating unhealthy food.

But one think I want from this challenge is to get to the stage when I am eating more mindfully by habit, and where I’m no longer compelled to eat every last crumb, just because it's sitting on a plate in front of me.

DAY 1

I love the intro that the guys made me; "Naomi's going to blaze a path...". I've just finished day 1's PCP workout and I think this fiery analogy is most fitting to how I'm feeling right now; really motivated, stimulated and ready for the challenge ahead.

So this is day 1 of the PCP and I'm going to keep my blog short and sweet like today's workout plan.

I had a bad start to my day today; missing my yoga class which really put me in a bad mood. But I came home and started my workout straight away. Exercise is such amazing therapy ....it turned my mood around almost immediately.

So I put Vampire Weekend on the stereo and started my 5 sets of 50 jump rope. I actually think I did 6 sets of these as I lost count!

Note: Need to confirm with Patrick whether hop style jumps (i.e. one foot hits the ground before the other) are allowed or whether boxer-style jumping is what I should be doing.

Squats were fine as my legs are used to these from daily hatha yoga practice.

I felt the chest presses the most and really began to feel the burn at this point; my mind started to recall all of those high intensity gym sessions I used to do week in week out for the past 6 years, up until about 8 months ago when I injured my knee from too much road running.

So today’s workout took me about 30 minutes. A nice soft introduction :)

My boyfriend's on a bit of a health kick at the moment too, swimming every morning, so there's a lot of mutual encouragement already.

I ended my session with some asana for about 35 minutes and then some seated meditation. Nice!

This week's diet is based on half portions, of what we're used to eating. This sounds fine in theory but in practice a bit strange to get used to. I started eating an apple, but had to think twice about eating all of it - should I have? It’s just an apple.

And what about lettuce portions? Surely that's not included. I ate half a yogurt and left the rest in the fridge for later, but obviously I won’t want to go back to the now unappetising splodge.

Being a vegetarian I’ve never dieted before so that’s going to be the main challenge for me. I realised today that I’ve been a vegetarian for 17 years! And I still clearly remember the day when I decided to become a vegetarian at 13!

But all in all, day 1 is fine; 89 more days of increasingly harder exercise and stricter dieting – eeek!!

We’ll see how my diary compares to today’s joyous entry, 3 weeks down the line!

Wish me luck!

Note: Not happy that the spell check on this blogger is US English and keeps telling me to substitute z's for my s's!!!

Naomi In the House

This is where Naomi will blaze a path towards maximum health!